Morals lost online as kids make hackers idols
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2005-12-12 09:17

Computer hackers have become the idols of Shanghai primary school students - causing educators alarm about the moral education system.

A new group of Internet addicts are interviewed by nurses at the Beijing Military Region Central Hospital, a clinic geared toward curing Internet addicts. [AP]

Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences' youth research institute asked nearly 5,000 primary students about their Internet use and preferences. Nearly 43 percent said they adore computer hackers.

About 33 percent said they dream of being a hacker themselves.

"Hackers are very cool," said 8-year-old Fan Yi, a local primary schoolboy.

He said hackers leave people an impression of high intelligence and are able to do whatever they like and get whatever secrets they want.

"That is what I lack but dream of," Fan said.

The survey found more than 31 percent of students consider surfing the Internet to be one of their major hobbies.

Children spend one hour to three hours a day on the Net.

Nearly 80 percent are exposed to sex-related documents or pictures that are unsuitable for their age.

All youngsters who log onto the Internet at public Net bars were found to access sex-related Web contents, the survey said.

Yang Xiong, researcher and the institute director, said hacker adoration and Internet reliance are all hidden dangers for youngsters' healthy moral development.

"Children are educated to contribute more than take from others, but they often find that information they receive from modern entertainment and real society doesn't comply with what teachers preach at school," Yang said. "That confuses young students."

Students are forced to follow the teachers at school, but they need to have a method or a place, such as submerging in cyberspace or dreaming of being a hacker, to let out their repressed real thoughts, Yang said.

Wu Zunmin, an education professor at East China Normal University, said the only solution to the hidden problem is to change the monotonous and futile school moral education system.

"Adults should also pay attention to their daily behavior to set good moral examples for children," Wu said.